Spoken is just about as perfect as can be...honestly. We have been coming here for the last five years since we moved to Chicago, and I am beyond grateful to have this treasure in my life. I'll start with the people--who are like a family. You can tell how much they honestly care for each other and take pride in the work they do. Everyone is always so friendly, and since COVID started, it has been extra meaningful to us to have these warm interactions to lift our spirits! Next are the amazing offerings! The coffee is fantastic--from their rotating drip coffee selection, to espresso drinks, this is by far the best place on the north side for coffee. All of the food is amazing also--they use the highest quality ingredients in their sandwiches and salads, everything is always carefully made, and they keep it fresh by adding creative specials every day. This is also our go-to spot for Do-Rite donuts in the neighborhood. Finally, I have to give a shout-out for how they have handled adapting their business during COVID. I honestly think they are the gold standard and more restaurants should look at them as a model for how to adapt. 1) First of all, they immediately set up an easy, user friendly online ordering system, which allows you to safely order in advance and minimize any time you have to spend waiting there in person. 2) Next, they've converted their space so that you are kept incredibly safe during your visit: everything is outside, the sidewalk is clearly (and sweetly) marked to let you know how far apart to stand in line, they built an order window for passing through your order to keep you and the employees safe, and they have clear signage, and sanitizing products available. 3) Early in the year when certain products were scarce, this mighty, little store figured out how to add groceries and home products to their menu. This was the first place that we could count on to get things like toilet paper, flour, and yeast. Not to mention locally sourced, seasonal produce throughout the whole pandemic. 4) Finally, they figured out how to use social media to keep customers informed about new protocols and upcoming specials--always being transparent when they have to unexpectedly close or change hours. -- I'm obviously a fan, but Spoken is a wonderful example of how it's the little things that count. Their commitment, attention, passion for being great at what they do shows, and it makes a big impact on those they serve. I have appreciated them for years, but how they have stepped up during this challenging year is totally inspiring and so appreciated. Thank you Spoken! You're the best. read more

Cranberry Walnut Cream Cheese. Yes. Sweet baby Jesus yes. I don't get anything other than that here and it makes my mornings when I do. I was not a big cream cheese fan until I tried it and I fell I lovveeeeee. Someone catch me! I love this place. Even with the new hipster name. I will admit , "Spoken Cafe" is a lot cooler than "Beans and Bagels", although it does not have the same ring to it. Eh, it's a give and take I guess. Ambiance: Wood everything. A variety of seating - booth, bar, window, table - a little bit of everything. Great vibes. Low-medium volume. Great for catching up with a friend over morning coffee; okay for work (if you put your headphones in). Quality: they really take their time with the food. Sometime too much, which then reflects in your punctuality to work. I always get the cranberry walnut cream cheese on cinnamon raisin bagel. I hate bagels because of how tough they are, but that never seems to bother me here. They toast it just the right amount to make taking a bite off easy. I love the walnut in contrast to the cranberry. I will admit that sometimes there is a garlicky taste to my bagel because of previous flavored bagels that have run through the toaster, but that's a tough issue to correct (I think?). Great for breakfast or lunch - some even call it... "brunch"... Customer Service: Always upbeat. Super friendly, but not overwhelming. They keep the place all kinds of clean. Accessibility: Street parking that always seems to be available. If you park a block or 2 down in pretty much any direction, you should be able to find something free. Area: Safe, friendly, with some cool shops you can check out with a friend after "brunch". I love Spoken. I hate how late it makes me sometimes, but if it is your only place to be, it's always satisfactory. Jamie "Jammy" D. "I'm not picky, I'm particular." read more

I love this little cafe! We came on a Saturday morning and got bagel breakfast sandwiches. I also had a delicious chai latte. Seriously delicious, fast, and great service. The place was bustling and for good reason. Apparently this little cafe was started by all women who wanted to promote female entrepreneurs. I'm about it! read more

Right under the brown line Montrose stop, this cozy coffee/pastry shop is one of my favorites! The staff is always pleasant and happy to make accommodations. The yogurt parfaits are my favorite menu item! They have lots of jarred things for sale (jams, pickled vegetables, etc.) and you get 20% off your beverage if you bring your own mug!! read more

Proto-hipster neighborhood coffee + sammich joint. Stopped by around 10am to get a quick breakfast and caffeine jolt. # Food Everything bagel + "Eye of Sauron" house made cream cheese spread: I love spicy. This had a decent kick. Bagel was toasted well, with great bite and flavor. Cortado: Good consistency and flavor. Espresso wasn't as lively or nuanced as some others, and the steamed milk wasn't particularly sweet, but I'm nitpicking here. It was solid overall -- especially given they're more a cafe than a dedicated coffee bar. # Service Baristas were friendly, and the wait was not long at all. # Ambience The place had a quiet murmur of music and voices. Perfect for getting some work done or just hanging out and catching up. # Seating Probably 6-8 cozy tables with handmade wooden seats/stools, plus bar seating against the wall. Seems like seating could max out pretty quickly -- we were there around 10am and seats were 80-90% occupied, though bar seating was empty. read more

This is, hands down, the best cafe in Chicago. The coffee is divine and the food is incredible. But the crown jewel is the amazing staff. The baristas there are absolutely phenomenal. They create the most warm and welcoming presence in addition to providing an amazing product. read more

I absolutely love this place, and stop in several times a week for coffee or a breakfast sandwich. I love their homemade jams and nut butters and frequently get a PB&J bagel sandwich. My all time favorite is the Senora Huerta though! Everything they do is done thoughtfully and with care. They support other local businesses, take care of their staff, and promote non profits and good causes. It doesn't get better than Spoken. read more

This super cute cafe was just one train stop away from where I was staying when visiting Chicago, and I am glad I found it. I went in and had one of their breakfast sandwiches on a bagel and my meal was so delicious, everything tasted fresh, from the bagel to the cheese and eggs. I also had their lemonade which was the right amount of sweet and tart. This place is such a cute staple in its community! Everyone there was greeted like family and service from the staff was great! I ordered a chai tea latte, and felt it was a little on the warmer side than hot the way I like it and when I brought it to someones attention they were more than helpful! read more

Iced lattes and bagel with cream cheese to go on a Saturday morning walk. Didn't get to the bagel until we got home a half hour later. Still super fresh, very tasty. Sandwich board looked yummy, will be back in near future. read more

I came here late on a Sunday morning to study. It is not a large space, but I was able to get a small table. In all honesty it is not a good place to study, not enough room. I did get a bagel sandwich and cappuccino though. The bagel sandwich was really good. I recommend if you go here to just get something to go. read more

I am extremely picky about my bagels after living in Manhattan for a year. After some serious disappointment--Chicago Bagel Authority is inedible and NYC Bagel Deli tastes like dinner rolls-- I can safely say these are the best bagels I've had in six years of living in Chicago. The cafe itself is adorable and cozy, and I love the proximity to the Brown Line. read more

I've taken the Montrose brown line daily for almost 2 years now and never stepped into here until today. Wow! What a great gem of a breakfast place. The coffee was hot, the bagel was great. I had the breakfast sandwich with ham, I was expecting ham and you can imagine my delight when the ham turned out to be what I would consider back bacon! So delicious! This Brit will be coming back more frequently read more

Picked up a few breakfast sammys for the fam and everything was amazing. Did an online order and it was fast and easy. They also have great COVID precautions in place. read more

Just love you guys so so so much. Excellent quality foods, new/changing innovative menu, friendly team, etc... The ONLY thing I need to whine about is the paper straws... I'm all for eco-friendly but yikes, the texture of the paper straw is so icky in your mouth and it gets damp and flimsy before the drink is gone. Surely we can think of an alternative? read more

It's unfortunate because I really want to love Spoken Cafe. The food is good and the coffee is good. But the service is so slow, I find myself avoiding it. Usually I go there in the mornings to grab a coffee and a bagel, but occasionally I'll splurge and get a sandwich. And boy oh boy do I regret it every time. The other day, it took them 20 minutes to make my sandwich and meanwhile 4 people got their bagels before me. On the weekends, forget about it. They only have 1 person working the food station, even on the weekends. The sandwiches are so complex with so many ingredients, so it takes this one person an eternity to make food. Final thought: if you're in a hurry to just grab a quick bite before work or hopping on the train, go somewhere else. If you're not in a hurry, then take the time to sit and enjoy the food, because it's really not bad. read more

So many tasty options. Our go to spot when we are nearby. The staff are friendly and helpful with picking out your options. Food is made fresh with great ingredients and there are many ways to customize your order. read more

We live down the street and come here quite often. I agree with other reviewers, there is one female who works the counter who thinks she is friendly, but she is not. She often shames me when I don't want bacon on my sandwich or meat in my breakfast bowl. Hasn't she heard of vegetarianism? There is one man who works the counter who doesn't smile, but aside from these two, I often find the service to be pleasant. More importantly, the food is delicious, thoughtfully sourced and prepared. Most of the food is organic and local. The bagels and cream cheese are insanely good. The soups are delightful. Their homemade spreads/jams are so great, I sometimes eat them with a spoon straight from the little cup. They use compostable/recyclable packaging. They have a good thing going here. read more

Lox and bagel is really good and they have amazing coffee. Great place for breakfast and brunch. Lovely interior very lighthearted place to chill in. read more

Great place but get there early cause it gets crowded. Only complaint is that the owner is kinda a tomato-nazi and only carries them 2 months out of the year! Their bagels and spreads are by far the best in the neighborhood and really good craft coffee too. read more

LOVE, cant stop coming here. Likely eat lunch here later today! Fresh unique ingredients, hip friendly staff, great cup of coffee, right around the corner! Nice place to hang out. What more could we want! read more

This place is truly something special. It's a little coffee and sandwich shop nestled underneath the El tracks. It's pretty small inside and can get crowded, but I've always been able to find a seat. Everything I've ever gotten there, from the coffee, espresso drinks and every single food item has been outstanding. I do disagree with the $1 sign, it's definitely $2 signs, but it's always been worth it. Whether you admit to it or not, if you are a hipster, you will definitely love this place. read more

Excellent place. Great vibe, friendly staff, and great coffee. The Mamou Mocha is fantastic, really doesn't skimp on the spice. read more

Spoken Cafe - Mamou mocha and a Do-Rite Maple Bacon Donut. The Mamou had a healthy hit of spice, balanced by the rich cream and the sweet chocolate. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My new fav in Ravenswood. Spoken has a great rotating selection of brewed coffee from Kickapoo or Counter Culture Coffee, and a discount for using your own mug. The toasted bagels with cream cheese are a great grab and go breakfast item. For any East Coasters, the bagels are tasty with a crunch on the outside, but the center is still denser than the crème de la crème bagels. Their cappuccino is delicious. Such a cute little coffee shop - definitely want to keep coming back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Definitely one of my favorite spots in Chicago! This place gives off major hippie vibes & they serve the best homemade bagels this side of the Hudson! I got an everything bagel with feta & dill cream cheese, and the flavors were exploding with joy in my mouth I felt like that scene in Ratatouille! The bagel was super chewy in a good way & the entire surface area was covered in seeds, just like I like it read more

Spoken Cafe - Homemade everything bagel with feta & dill cream cheese. TOP 10 Breakfast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place dearly. The staff is wonderful. The food is wonderful. The owners are such great people we had them cater our wedding. I cannot speak highly enough of it. The biggest problem they have is that sometimes the wait for the food gets a little long, but it just comes with the customer volume, the staff clearly is aware and move as quickly as they can and the owners are constantly retooling and upgrading the place to optimize further. read more

This place is amazing! Locally sourced delicious food. Met for a breakfast meeting and by far my favorite new discovery in the city.

This place is great. Super nice staff at all hours of what i can assume is a long day behind that counter. Amazing sweets under the counter everyday, all kinds of great options. My favorite is that they have an extensive list of cream cheese options to choose from to put on a bagel that you chose from that wonderful list of options as well. Open early, right underneath the Montrose Brown Line stop, always a great choice for breakfast or lunch. I didn't even mention the coffee there either... They always have two different brews going everyday of something rich and delicious. Just the smell of some of the roasts is enough to make your mouth water. This morning breakfast was a toasted everything bagel with olive and herb cream cheese... it was absolutely amazing! Definitely check it out. read more

Thank God Spoken is Beans and Bagels with a name change. For homemade bagels there's no place better. They have seriously huge, chewy, fresh bagels with a variety of homemade spreads. The donuts are also generously sized. I didn't indulge, but others in my party did and said the donuts were totally sugar buzz-worthy and delicious. They also make one of the best, smoothest lattes out there. The coffee has a warm, roasted taste. It's a small place tucked under the Montrose brown line tracks. The people who work there are always pleasant and helpful. Beans and Bagels, er...Spoken Cafe' is a neighborhood treasure. read more

Great spot, delicious food, friendly staff. They make their own jam and jelly and sell them too, those are amazing!

Spoken has grown on me. It's pleasant to be in, I'm told the coffee is the best around, and when you leave you realize you smell like toast. I found it a little fake at the beginning--it's decorated like they've been there for 50 years gathering art all the while and it feels a little more hipster than the rest of the neighborhood. But now it's more familiar and I'm down! I wish they had bananas. read more

I work really close by and I want to love this place but it is just way to overpriced and slow service. The sandwiches are move than $10 and it doesn't come with any chips or pickle or anything. The pastries are very expensive and not great. It takes about 15 minutes to get a sandwich when there isn't a line. The bagels and hummus are good but I just wouldn't go in to get anything on the menu due to the price. read more

First off, I love this place. I live in the neighborhood and it's one of my go-to spots for coffee drinks and sandwiches. The coffee is top notch. Have always enjoyed the sandwiches as well whenever I go. Great atmosphere and everyone that works there is awesome! Only negative part about this place is the salads. I would recommend skipping that part of the menu. I had my first salad there last week and it will be my last. The salad was given to me literally packed to the brim with stuff. I was then given the salad dressing on the side. I don't see why I need to dress my own salad at a restaurant. Throw the greens in a bowl, put the appropriate amount of dressing and seasoning, put in service bowl and serve. It's also impossible to properly dress a salad in full to the brim bowl. I made a mess, salad all over the table. Because I couldn't mix it properly I ended up putting way too much dressing on. It was a very bad salad. Besides that though I would 100% recommend for studying, drinks and food. read more

Great spot. Organic sandwiches, salads, coffee...music is great! Right under Montrose brown line. The offer tons of options for such a small place. Day hours only but that's just fine. Wifi, bike rack in front, pleasant workers! I love it! It is smaller than usual but it turns over fast for table seats. Yay! read more

Best bagels on the Northside! The grits are great too. Fresh OJ and Do-Rite donuts. It's a Go-To weekend spot. There will be a wait but it's not bad & worth it. We're so happy this is in our neighborhood! read more

The coffee is good, however, the service is another story. I recently was there having a cup, and heard some guy answer the phone. He then handed the phone to a woman who was apparently a manager, and she asked what the person on the phone wanted. The guy shrugged, and very openly said, " I don't know, tell him to go fuck off". Now, I am in sales, and understand the difficulty of that job. I also get how getting a sales call on a busy day is annoying. But that level of disrespect is uncalled for, and speaks volumes about the kind of place this is. If that were me calling, I would've cussed them out, and hung up. But it's fine. There's a Starbucks close, and they don't treat people that way. read more

This is a small and homey cafe. But homey to a level that I felt like I was in someone's crowded living room. There is not much seating. My latte was tasty, but small for the price. (I came here with my coffee passport, so a good deal for me.) The place also closed quite early for a Sunday, at 3pm. It was fine, but not necessarily a place where I could settle in with a book or some work to get done. read more

After a disappointing brunch I had to stop by a coffee shop to get some coffee and something to subsidize my hunger. Spoken cafe was around the corner so we went. The inside was quaint a cozy. Tables were small but plentiful for a small coffee shop. There were a handful of people on their laptops doing work. I ordered 2 small coffees and a bagel. The barista showed us how big their small coffee was. It was nice that he showed us because we opted for the medium. I got a wheat bagel with jalapeño cream cheese. I also got a chocolate and banana tart. Bagel was warm and melted the cream cheese to ooey gooey deliciousness. The chocolate banana tart was just the right amount of sweetness and neither the banana nor the chocolate was too overpowering. Coffee was a dark roast that was smooth and velvety. Although I don't live in the area I would come again when I'm in ravenswood. I highly recommend it! read more

This place is the best! The coffee is good, the homemade cream cheeses are even betters, and they have a ton of local pastries, t-shirts, art, etc. But better than all that, what prompted me to write a review for Spoken is their service. This must be a great place to work because the employees are INCREDIBLY nice, patient, and helpful. Seriously. A few times I've walked in not knowing what I wanted and disoriented from lack of caffeine--the baristas are always really pleasant and willing to help my confused little brain decide. Every different person I've interacted with there has been kind, funny, and chill, treating me like an old friend. Maybe they put something in the water? Anyway, to summarize, if you want to drink good coffee, eat good food, and be put in a great mood, Spoken is the place! read more

My favorite coffee shop in all of Chicago! They brew coffee like it's a science and it always tastes great, flavorful and strong but not too strong. The food is great too, my favorites are the breakfast sandwich on a bialy (less bready than a bagel) and the Cubano. Lovely, friendly staff. read more

Cozy little cafe . Great selection of bagels and cream cheese . Wheat bagel with cranberry and walnut cream cheese is superb . Also great choice of latte flavors/ variations . I had a Honey and vanilla latte really good. Great selection of Kickapoo coffee roasted in Wisconsin! read more